Catch Anything Stations

A six-station circuit for catching objects that fall or fly in different ways: scarves, balloons, beanbags, bouncing balls, hoops and soft balls. Students build catching skills, tracking and hand-eye coordination.

How to play

1. Set up six stations, each with a cone and a picture card, and make 6 groups of 4.
2. Stations: scarf toss and catch, balloon with a spin, partner beanbag toss from 3 m, tennis ball after one bounce, rolling hoop catch, and soft ball tossed up and caught sitting down.
3. Each student counts out loud their catches in a row.
4. Each station lasts 2 and a half minutes, and groups rotate on the whistle (15 min).
5. Before rotating, groups report their best streak and the teacher chalks it on the blacktop.
6. Final challenge (3 min): the whole class tosses at once and counts how many catch.

Rules

• Stay in your own space to avoid collisions.
• Walk to get loose objects and look around first.
• Toss beanbags underhand, never at faces.
• Leave the equipment in the station hoop before rotating.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: everything is done seated; replace the hoop with a ball rolled to the student.
• Visual impairment: large, brightly colored balloons and balls; the partner says "ready" before tossing.
• Lower skill: use the slower scarf and balloon at any station.

Learning goals

• Catch objects of different shapes and speeds.
• Predict the path of falling, bouncing or rolling objects.
• Beat their own catching record.

Equipment for a class of 25

• scarves: 4
• balloons: 4
• beanbags: 4
• tennis balls: 4
• hoops: 4
• soft balls: 4

Teacher tip

Start with the slow objects to build confidence. Keep reminding students to watch the object into their hands, the most common mistake at this age.

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